Missing Springfield man found safe after search by deputies, rescue crews

Lane County Sheriff’s deputies and search-and-rescue crews found an elderly Springfield man safe Sunday evening after family members reported he had left home on a scooter without his necessary medication.

He was located at about 8:25 p.m. along a bike path near the 2100 block of 37th Place in Springfield, about an hour after deputies and Lane County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue began looking for him. The quick location ended a search that had immediate medical implications because the man was elderly and had gone missing without the medication he needed.

The call moved fast because the missing man’s age and medical needs raised the stakes from the start. Family members told authorities he had taken off on the scooter without his medication, making time a critical factor as deputies and volunteer search teams spread out across the Springfield area.

Lane County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue is the county volunteer program that responds to reports of missing or injured people 24 hours a day. In this case, deputies and search-and-rescue personnel worked together to cover the area until they found the man along the bike path, a narrow corridor that can cut through neighborhoods and give someone on a scooter an easy route away from home.

For families in Springfield, the first step when an elderly relative with medical needs goes missing is to call 9-1-1 immediately. Give dispatchers the person’s last known location, a current description, the clothing they were wearing, whether they were using a scooter, vehicle, or other mobility aid, and what medication they may need right away. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office says its non-emergency line is 541-682-4141, but emergency calls should still go to 9-1-1. The sheriff’s office is at 125 E. 8th Avenue, Room 140, in Eugene, and central reception is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding legal holidays.